It's the Hundredth Birthday of the crossword puzzle and what better way to celebrate than a pair of mystery series where the clues come both across and down?
ONE DOWN
Alison Joseph
One Down is a radio serial that's also a crossword. The action centres on the offices of a struggling local paper, The Rainswick Mercury, where a small team of staff faces a hostile takeover from local property developer Trent Scrimger. Then, a mystery crossword appears in the paper – a crossword that appears to be hinting at some skeletons in Trent's closet, but no one seems to know how it got there. It's time for reporter Ian and web assistant Abbie to get to work – if only they could overcome their shyness and actually talk to each other.
The story takes place over five days in real time. A new clue is made available on air and via the BBC Radio 4 website each day with the solution to the clue being linked to the next day's storyline. One Down is an intriguing mystery, played out in real time, that listeners can get involved with.
The cast includes Adjoa Andoh and Nicholas le Prevost.
One Down is written by Alison Joseph and the crossword construction is by AJ Moore (aka MASH), an experienced crossword-setter who has been published in The Times and The Independent.
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Here’s a clue: Newspaperman in refusal to admit it's all over. Two words – three letters then four.
The Rainswick Mercury is on its last legs, and local property developer Trent Scrimger wants to buy it up and run it as a propaganda sheet for his dubious plans. But what can be done? Then a mystery crossword appears in the paper, the staff are flummoxed and no-one seems to know how it got there.
Still working on that clue? – Well the answer is One Down of course, our new drama serial featuring Nicholas le Prevost and Adjoa Andoh, fresh from her appearances on Doctor Who.
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1 - When a mystery crossword appears in The Rainswick Mercury the staff are flummoxed, but a local property developer thinks it's personal.
09/07/2007
2 - Ian thinks the mystery crossword may be more than just a prank.
10/07/2007
3 - Mary is pushing Julian to fight for the survival of his paper.
11/07/2007
4 - Julian confronts his enemy.
12/07/2007
5 - It's publication day for The Rainswick Mercury. Will it be the last one?
13/07/2007
Julian ...... Nicholas Le Prevost
Mary ...... Adjoa Andoh
Abbie ...... Helen Longworth
Ian ...... Anthony Glennon
Tara ...... Jasmine Callan
Gavin ...... John Dougall
Producer/director Paul Arnold.
NOTE: The puzzle offered on the website is included in the RAR file, as is the solution. It's fun to play along!
Crosswords
Jim Eldridge
2000
Episode 1: Arthur in Bournemouth, or Many Arrived Around (7 Letters)
A romantic comedy with clues, by Jim Eldridge. A lonely Bournemouth widower compiles crosswords for his local paper. His life is changed forever when a widow challenges him to help her prove that King Arthur came to Bournemouth. With Wendy Craig, Geoffrey Palmer, Bruce Alexander and John Rowe. Directed by Marilyn Imrie
Episode 2: Leonardo in Lyme Regis
A work by da Vinci turns up in Dorset - or does it? Crossword demon Stephen, now in partnership with wily widow Penny, unravels a fine-art mystery. With Wendy Craig, Geoffrey Palmer
Episode 3: Shakespeare in Southampton
We meet again the inveterate crossword puzzler Stephen Cross and his wife Penny, who with a little help from their dog Buster, unravel the mystery of a missing Shakespeare manuscript; while the Bournemouth Light Opera Society prepare for a mind boggling production of Twelfth Night. Featuring some of the twentieth century's most popular songs.
Stephen Cross....Geoffrey Palmer
Penny Cross....Wendy Craig
Anastasia Blodgett....Mary Wimbush
Terry Jordan....Bruce Alexander
Kerry....Alison Pettitt
Hilda....Tracy Wiles
John Paris....David Shaw-Parker
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Please note that I have posted several other shows in the Documntaries section. Both sets are covered by one link
Replies
Good stuff! For a sample of the real thing, try the free daily Cryptic Crossword at The Guardian. If I get a third done, it is as satisfying as completing the Sunday NY Times (in pen).
On Mondays, they offer the Quiptic where I can usually do all but two or three entries. I look weekly at their Prize crossword, but have only filled in a few entries in months of trying. A humbling experience. I see why the ability to complete a British Cryptic Crossword was enough to get you admitted to the Bletchley Park codebreakers during the war.
Note: the Guardian Xwords are free; they have a java interface, but I usually just print the darned thing out.They have a blog where regular users can chat with the "setters" (and they do!). The closest comparison we have in the states is puzzlemaster Will Shortz and the NPR Quiz.
The Times, FT and the other mainstream London papers also have online crosswords, but most wanted a subscription first. The Guardian also broke the Snowden story this year. That's why the name sounds familiar. It used to be the Manchester Guardian, back in Charles Dickens' era.
Cheers!
Thanks!
You're quite welcome!
Well I have never been interested in solving crosswords myself but these items sound interesting. Setting them would be more interesting.
I've never been very good at setting puzzles, but I used to compete in "solving" tournaments. I nver won, but it was fun.